SOFTIMAGE Ships Face Robot 1.9 - Realistic 3D Facial Animation

Introduces Autodesk Maya exporter to offer the fastest, most complete facial animation toolset for emotive performances

MONTRÉAL, Québec – April 10th 2008 – Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., today announced the availability of its 3D character facial animation technology, SOFTIMAGE® Face Robot® 1.9. SOFTIMAGE Face Robot enables professional 3D artists to create realistic human character facial animations quickly and easily, eliminating complex technical rigging steps. SOFTIMAGE Face Robot 1.9 is a complete technology that can scale to meet the needs of facilities varying in size and scope of project or game title.

SOFTIMAGE Face Robot 1.9 introduces a new Autodesk® Maya® exporter that facilitates moving completed facial rigs and animation data from Face Robot into Maya. The interoperative workflow enhances pipeline export and custom data exchange, allowing artists to integrate facial rigs created in Face Robot into pipelines built on SOFTIMAGE|XSI® software, Autodesk Maya software, or between any other professional3D animation software packages.

SOFTIMAGE Face Robot 1.9 introduces a new export system for Autodesk Maya software that allows artists to create a shape-based version of Face Robot deformers, and move it directly into Maya. This new feature builds on the recent addition of a new 23-part training video supplement, seven ready-to-use preset head models, and seamless operation with SOFTIMAGE|XSI software and its Crosswalk, MOTOR (motion transfer), Delta Referencing and Animation Layers.

"Face Robot allows us to really take full advantage of advanced facial rigging and facial-capture requirements that our clients send us," said Stan Miskiewicz, Co-founder and President at Black Point Studios, San Francisco. "With the added Maya-exporter feature in Face Robot 1.9, this additional time-saving feature will allow us to deliver final production to our customers faster—and in this deadline-driven industry—that means a lot."

Availability:

SOFTIMAGE Face Robot 1.9 is available now. For a consultation and Face Robot 1.9 pricing information, please find a local Softimage sales representative at: http://www.softimage.com/buy/

About Softimage Co.
Softimage Co., a part of Avid Technology, Inc., develops intuitive, production proven tools that free 3D artists to create the world’s most compelling characters in the film, broadcast, post-production and games industries. Its flagship product, SOFTIMAGE|XSI is the most complete and intuitive character animation solution available. Easily integrated into any CG production pipeline, XSI software enables 3D artists to create the most lifelike character performances. SOFTIMAGE|FACE ROBOT is the first commercial toolset that accelerates facial animation that empowers 3D artists to create, refine and repurpose high-quality, lifelike facial animation in less time than traditional solutions. For more information about Softimage, please visit www.softimage.com.

About Avid Technology, Inc.
Avid is a worldwide leader in tools for film, video, audio, 3D animation, gaming and broadcast professionals – as well as for home audio and video enthusiasts. Avid professional and consumer brands include Avid, Digidesign, M-Audio, Pinnacle Systems, Sibelius, Softimage and Sundance Digital. The vast majority of primetime television shows, feature films, commercials and chart-topping music hits are made using one or more Avid products. Whether used by seasoned professionals or beginning students, Avid’s products and services enable customers to work more efficiently, productively and creatively. Avid received an Oscar® statuette representing the 1998 Scientific and Technical Award for the concept, design, and engineering of the Avid® Film Composer® system for motion picture editing. For more information about the company’s Oscar, Grammy® and Emmy® award-winning products and services, visit www.avid.com.

© 2008 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice. Promotions and discounts are subject to availability and change without notice. All prices are USMSRP for the U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local Avid office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid, Digidesign, Film Composer, M-Audio, Pinnacle Systems, Sibelius, Sundance Digital, Softimage, Face Robot, and XSI are trademarks or registered trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Oscar is a trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Emmy is a registered trademark of ATAS/NATAS. Grammy is a trademark of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. mental ray is a registered trademark of mental images GmbH in the USA and other countries. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.